Pat Bruderer
Cree
A birch bark biting is a unique piece of Indigenous artwork. They are made by biting an image, using only the teeth, into a thin, single layer of birch bark from the birch tree. Birch bark had many uses historically, from making canoes and cooking pots, to medicinal uses. Birch bark bitings were used as a means to create bead work patterns on clothing and moccasins, to share stories and to record ceremonies. Birch bark biting is an extremely rare skill in modern times, and the rarity of the art form makes them even more special! The artist begins by peeling a thin strip of birch bark from a birch tree. Then, by carefully folding the bark, the pattern imagined is pressed into the birch bark, using only the teeth.
Meet the Artist
Pat Bruderer
Pat Bruderer, Half Moon Woman, represents the preservation of a very special type of Indigenous art. The art form is called Birch Bark Biting and Pat is one of the few knowledge keepers and expert practitioners of this ancient Indigenous art. She was born and raised in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada and is of Cree ancestry. She is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation who are Assin'skowitiniwak or Rocky Cree. She is the mother of five children, is a proud Kookum to her grandchildren and currently resides in British Columbia, Canada. Half Moon Woman has always been an active community member, teaching art, volunteering, and creating programs to assist Indigenous communities in Canada.
Halfmoon Woman is self-taught in the art form but was highly inspired by the work of Angelique Merasty of Flin Flon, Manitoba. She feels a great responsibility as a carrier of this traditional art form, strives for its preservation and for the teachings that it holds; something she calls 'Passing a Tradition.'
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Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! We make our moccasins and mukluks for everyone. By purchasing from us, you are participating in cultural appreciation, not cultural appropriation. When you purchase from Manitobah, you are directly supporting Indigenous people and celebrating Indigenous culture in an authentic, meaningful way that helping us in our vision to create positive impact in Indigenous communities.
To make our brand more accessible, to support our social impact initiatives, and to allow us to compete with other global fashion brands, we produce our products in international ethical partner factories. Our factory partners that support our growing product line go through an in-depth 3rd party inspection and internal Social Compliance Audit. These high standards are continually monitored and respected. We are proud of our manufacturing policies and our ability to build capacity globally. We believe that our success as an Indigenous business has been due to our willingness to walk forward while honouring our past.
Manitobah Mukluks makes a variety of products that match Canada's diverse climates. We offer select styles of adult mukluks that are waterproof. Those styles are tagged online as waterproof and can be seen here.
Both styles of children's mukluks are waterproof. They have been treated with our AuthenTEC waterproofing system; treated hide and an internal flexible coating that is inspired by pine pitch and spruce gum. Manitobah conducts rigorous waterproof and temperature testing using a minimum 50,000 flex standard.
The rest of the adult mukluks are constructed with natural suede and leather which are not sealed and not considered waterproof. We recommend treating them with a leather/suede protector to help with water resistance and general protection. All of our MUKLUKS are insulated with sheepskin footbeds and most are constructed with untreated suede which is porous (and not considered waterproof). These natural materials need to breathe in order to be effective in extreme cold. Indigenous people have been surviving in the coldest climates for thousands of years using this very wisdom.
Protection: Use a silicone-based leather/suede protector. Do not spray fur, as it contains natural protective oils. We offer a protecting spray as part of our Care Kit here.
To Clean: Leather can be cleaned using a gentle soap and soft brush. For salt, wipe down with a damp cloth. Even if they have been sprayed, salt is corrosive and can cause damage.
To Dry: Once wet, allow your footwear to dry naturally
Wear: Never pull fur when putting on or removing boot, fur sheds over time and frequent friction will cause the fur to shed much faster. Cross laces over before tightening to avoid tearing leather eyeholes
Storage: When ready to store them for the season you should clean them, allow them to dry and then pack them away in a sealed container away from heat, moisture and pets (a plastic storage tote works great.) You can also use a pool noodle or something similar in the shaft to keep them upright during storage.
Our traditional Mukluks and natural soled Moccasins are not built on a traditional foot last so there is no left or right foot. This method has been used on Indigenous footwear for thousands of years. Over time the natural materials will form to your foot and allow you to have a custom fit. Moccasins with the turtle vibram sole and all of our kids mukluks do have a left and right foot.
Our sheepskin-lined mukluks are considered one of the warmest winter boots for northern winters and are rated down to -32 degrees Celsius. Partnering with Vibram has also allowed us to design a sole that allows your foot to bend. Research indicates that flexible soles promote proper foot movement and blood circulation to your toes. This means that in cold dry weather, our mukluks will allow your feet to stay warmer than almost anything on the market.